Cherry Almond Coconut Granola

My husband loves granola, but it's not always healthy. This recipe is SO yummy and SO good for you! You could substitute less healthy ingredients (vegetable oil instead of coconut oil, brown sugar instead of maple syrup, etc) and leave out the ground flax seed and wheat germ, but if you have the ingredients, put them in! Also, the dried cherries can be substituted for any dried fruit (or even left out). Eat it for a snack by itself, or serve like cereal. YUMMY!!

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Yields: 7 Cups

Ingredients

• 5  cups old fashioned oats
• 1⁄2 cup wheat germ
• 1⁄2 cup ground flax seeds
• 1 1⁄2 cups  sliced almonds or 1 1⁄2 cups  roughly chopped  almonds
• 1  teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  almond extract
• 2  tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1⁄2 cup  melted coconut oil
• 1⁄2-1  cup pure maple syrup
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped dried cherries

Directions

1. Toss the dry ingredients together in a VERY large bowl.
2. Combine the wet ingredients.
3. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients.
4. Spread the mixture onto two large baking sheets covered with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
5. Bake for 45 min and turn the oven off, leaving the pans in the oven until it cools completely, or overnight.
6. Toss in dried fruit.
7. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three weeks (if you can keep it around that long).